Jane Brooke (“Brookie”) Taylor was born on June 25, 1941, in Birmingham, Michigan. She passed away on March 28, 2025, at 11:53 PM at the Hospice Care Center on Cork Street in Winchester, VA. They took amazing care of her, and her family are grateful for their warmth and attention.

Her life was storied and consequential in many ways. Her love of horses was known by all who knew her, and she was one of the last switchboard operators plugging phone lines together. She never learned how to say no to any challenge.

Brooke earned a four-year Registered Nurse degree in San Francisco, CA, where she met the father of her two children, Franklin Donald Taylor, a pilot and eventual Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. Christopher Scott Taylor and David Michael Taylor were fortunate to have two parents who loved both their country and their family deeply.

She served the United States Air Force in Vietnam from 1968-1969 for three tours. During her service, she heroically triaged soldiers under fire constantly. She spent 18 months flying aeromedical evacuations in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

After raising her two sons during their formative years, she performed total quality management as a civilian at the 167th WV Air National Guard, leading 1,100 personnel and acting as the liaison with the US Air Force Major Command. Later, she joined the 167th as a Major in Martinsburg, and successfully commanded the aeromedical evacuation squadron. As she continued her military education, and a precursor to attaining her rank as Colonel, she attended the InterAmerican Defense College in Washington DC, a senior service school at Fort McNair.

Her service culminated in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm, but most importantly as a maternal figure for every person she came into contact with over her career, in addition to her family and friends.

Brooke was active in her community, including volunteering and communing with organizations that meant a lot to her such as The Godfrey Miller Center, Welcome Wagon, her local churches, the PTO, and an active bowling league. Her warmth and love were felt on all levels of her life.

Her true impact will never be forgotten by her family and friends, both military and personal. She loved challenging people at bridge, tiles, and common sense. Her wit and wisdom spread across generations, and she will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her longtime companion James Lamp, and will be joining her dearly departed dog, Sophie.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 11am with a service to follow at 12pm all held at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park. Following the interment, a reception in her honor will be held at the 867 lodge of the Elks, located on 522.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Brooke to the Elks Lodge #867, 466 Front Royal Pike, Winchester, VA 22602.